Five departing Southwest flights and five arriving flights out of Myrtle Beach International Airport, MYR, have been canceled as of Wednesday morning, according to the airport’s website.

This comes after about a dozen flights in and out the Myrtle Beach airport were canceled on Tuesday.

Across the U.S., about 4,406 flights have been canceled as of Wednesday morning according to flight tracking website Flightaware. About 2,500 of those were Southwest flights, nearly 62% of all of the airline’s total flights today.

These cancellations come amid a massive winter storm that dumped multiple inches of snow across the U.S. and gave Myrtle Beach it’s second coldest Christmas on record.

Here are the canceled flights out of MYR on Wednesday.

Southwest Airlines - Flight 3168 from Baltimore 1:20 p.m.

Southwest Airlines - Flight 1795 from Chicago (MDW) 4:20 p.m.

Southwest Airlines - Flight 950 from Nashville 7:30 p.m.

Southwest Airlines - Flight 2158 from Baltimore 9:05 a.m.

Southwest Airlines - Flight 2265 to Chicago (MDW) 1 p.m.

Southwest Airlines - Flight 3161 to Baltimore (BWI) 2:10 p.m.

Southwest Airlines - 5675 to Nashville (BNA) 4:50 p.m.

Southwest Airlines - Flight 950 to Baltimore (BWI) 8:10 p.m.

Southwest Airlines - Flight 2158 to Nashville (BNA) 9:40 a.m.

Airports affected the most by cancellations include Denver International, and Chicago Midway International.

The operational failures have put the Dallas-based company under scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Transportation, whose secretary Pete Buttigeig said would be investigating the “meltdown,” according to a CNN article.

It’s unclear how the company will handle refunds and re-bookings nationwide, but CEO Bob Jordan told the Wall Street Journal that more cancellations were on the way, at least through Thursday.

Sol Negron, 30, said they had two flight cancellations back to back from Southwest and is now making the nearly 18-hour drive from Myrtle Beach to their home in Kansas City, MO.

Negron said they had always chosen Southwest, but the airline’s cancellations were a “great reminder” not to fly with them in the winter.

“I’m going to continue to fly Southwest,” Negron said. “I just am not going to fly Southwest in the winter because they do so bad with winter flights.”

Myrtle Beach is one of the fastest growing communities in the nation. New subdivisions seem to spring up overnight. New shopping centers appear to fill every open space.

For nature lovers, the press of development can seem claustrophobic.

But there are still acres of preserved forest and marsh land to freely explore in Horry County, S.C.

3715 SC-90, Conway, SC 29526

Located just 5 miles up International Drive from the bustling intersection of River Oaks Drive, entering this 10,427-acre preserve managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, SCDNR, is like passing into an earlier era. The open pine forests are crisscrossed with miles of easily walk-able dirt roads that wander between 23 Carolina Bays.

These mysterious bays, golf ball-like depressions seen from above, are a significant geological feature of the preserve. While their origin is in debate, these bays are known for their wildflowers, pitcher plants and the carnivorous venus flytrap that natively grows within. SCDNR biologists request that visitors stay on the well-packed dirt roads to avoid damaging the protected plants.

All the animals of the S.C. lowland forest may be observed here including deer, squirrel, quail, wild turkey, and fox, but the preserve is best known for it’s black bear population prompting some walkers to carry cans of bear spray on their belts.

In fact, when International Drive was built and paved a few years ago, debate raged about how to best protect the bears from traffic along the new road and stalled the construction. After courtroom battles over the potential need for bear tunnels, the SCDNR recommended a slower speed limit which was eventually set to 45 miles per hour.

If you go: Observe the bulletins on the informational kiosks and within the preserve that warn of hazards including controlled burns of the area and hunting seasons. A posted notice states that “All Visitors must wear solid international orange during any deer hunting season. (hat, vest or coat.)”

1403 W Cox Ferry Rd, Conway, SC 29526

This refuge spans both sides of the Waccamaw and Great Pee Dee rivers from near Conway, S.C. in Horry County into portions of Georgetown and Marion counties. It offers opportunities for hiking, fishing, boating, mountain biking, hunting and nature observation.

Local walkers can most easily access the 325-acre Cox Ferry Lake Recreation Area portion of the refuge at trailheads off West Cox Ferry Road or Gray Lake Boulevard off Highway 90 near Conway.

Approximately 3 miles of wide, well-marked trails meander along the river and across blackwater cypress swamps. A tidal freshwater wetland, animals that might be spotted here include turtles, amphibians, deer, turkeys and alligators. The refuge is known among local birders for its variety of wading birds, ducks, woodpeckers, swallow-tail kites, owls and ospreys.

Walkers on the Blue Trail can stroll over the winding Otter Lake Boardwalk, which stretches for more than 1,000 feet across wetlands.

If you go: Winter and Spring are good times to visit these river bottom areas as biting insects emerge with warmer temperatures. These trails are also prone to flooding during the wet seasons and may be closed when river levels rise.

2250 SC-179, Little River, SC 29566

This Horry County park, once a 400-acre plantation owned by the Vereen family, is now an ideal place for a nature hike through forests and across marsh lands.

Tucked in the Northern corner of the county against the Intracoastal Waterway the area has a rich history dating to the pre-colonial period. The Vereen family cemetery located on the site draws history buffs while nature lovers have plenty to explore along the forest’s trails and marsh boardwalks.

Throughout the park visitors will find placards describing the native animals and plant life that abounds. Fiddler crabs scurry ahead of walkers on the boardwalks that lead down to several islands along the Intracoastal Waterway and a pier where visitors can watch the boats pass by.

This is a great area to have lunch in one of the gazebos and entertain the kids as there is a play area with swing sets located near the entrance.

If you go: You may want to take some colored markers and string along. Visitors often hang painted oyster shells along the trees lining the Intracoastal Waterway to memorialize their visit to the site.

999-943 Hillside Dr, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582

One of the area’s most ‘hidden gems’, Ingram Dunes was protected from development when it was purchased by the City of North Myrtle Beach with the help of local conservation groups in 2019.

This 7.24-acre preserve of ancient maritime forest and towering sand dunes is the last plot of untouched land in the city and is surrounded by the residential homes of the Crescent Beach neighborhood.

The trails within the property, long used by locals as a natural respite from the hustle of the city, can now be freely enjoyed by visitors.

Limited roadside parking is available along Hillside Drive where walkers can pick up one of the sandy trails that wind over the dunes and under spectacular old live oak trees. Despite it’s proximity to the city, this natural area is home to wildlife such as migratory birds, foxes, deer and turtles as well as dozens of native plant species.

If you go: Expect to get sandy. Kids especially love running, often tumbling, down the steep sand dunes.

5611 Heritage Dr, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582

This easy 1-mile walk takes visitors to cross portions of a salt marsh on elevated boardwalks to a small undisturbed maritime island with panoramic views of Hog Inlet and Waties Island from a gazebo on the point of the island.

Along the trail and on observation decks over the salt ponds and creeks, interpretive signs are placed describing the history of the area and the wildlife that can be found there.

If you go: The nearest parking is at the Cherry Grove Boat Landing and Park at 53rd Avenue North in Myrtle Beach where hourly parking fees are required. Visitors will need to walk 1 block North along a residential sidewalk to enter the park.

A massive World War II-era military building tumbled 200 feet from a sandy cliff onto a California beach, officials said.

The structure was “undermined when saturated bluff sand slid onto the beach” at Fort Funston, a park with 200-foot oceanside bluffs on the “western edge of San Francisco,” according to a Jan. 16 tweet from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Beachcombers at Fort Funston will share the beach today with a WWII military structure undermined when saturated bluff sand slid onto the beach. Thanks to @sffdpio for safety assistance. Visitors are encouraged to follow postal trailhead signs and be attentive to surroundings pic.twitter.com/2GKylHz9V5

— Golden Gate National Recreation Area - Alerts (@GGNRANPSAlerts) January 16, 2023

There were no injuries, Capt. Jonathan Baxter with the San Francisco Fire Department said in an email to McClatchy News.

“Coastal agencies encourage visitors to exercise caution around post-storm saturated hillsides and coastal bluffs as they enjoy sunny days after weeks indoors,” the Golden Gate National Recreation Area said on Twitter.

Photos shared with McClatchy News from the San Francisco Fire Department show the corroded, graffitied structure sitting below a tall cliff on the beach.

“The collapsed structure was likely an observation post that was part of the Battery Davis coastal defense fortification,” the Golden Gate National Recreation Area said in an email to McClatchy News. “It is made of reinforced concrete and would be incredibly expensive to remove from the beach, so it will remain in place as we assess our options.”

Fort Funston was once a harbor defense installation, which housed military equipment and buildings, including batteries, bunkers and barracks, according to the website California Military Museum.

“The garrison complex would grow during World War II by the construction of a new class of ‘temporary’ barracks and quarters and other structures to a total, by the end of 1942, of 86 buildings,” the website said

After World War II, most of those structures were removed “so that today only a few remain,” according to the website.

The landslide at Fort Funston is the latest in the aftermath of a recent onslaught of back-to-back atmospheric rivers that hit the state.

The powerful storms resulted in sinkholes, as well as rockfalls and landslides that caused the closure of a number roads, The Associated Press reported.

One of the storms collapsed a pier in Santa Cruz, as well as left a popular beach in ruins, McClatchy News reported.

The recent surge of storms also led to at least 19 deaths, The Los Angeles Times reported.

Though heavy rainfall helped the state’s drought conditions in recent weeks, it did not put an end to the drought, The Sacramento Bee reported.

College of Charleston forward Ante Brzovic had a black eye, which he wears as a badge of honor in this extra special season.

Brzovic got the shiner when he collided with teammate Dalton Bolon going for a rebound last week in a drama-filled, 71-69 win over UNC Wilmington.

“I think it makes him look tougher,” Bolon said with a chuckle. “He wasn’t that handsome to begin with.”

Brzovic has been plenty tough for the 18th-ranked Cougars (19-1, 7-0 Colonial Athletic Association), scoring 17 points in an 82-54 victory over William & Mary on Monday — their 18th straight win this season.

“We played hard," Charleston coach Pat Kelsey said. "We measure and value deflections. It tells us how hard we are playing. I think we had 50-something deflections, which I think is a record for us.”

Charleston’s 19 wins are the most in Division I and its ranking, up from No. 22 last week, is the program’s highest since 1999 when the school finished No. 16 in the AP poll.

William & Mary (8-11, 3-3) had its two-game win streak snapped.

Charleston didn’t shoot the ball particularly well – hitting just 38 percent from floor – but that didn’t stop the Cougars from connecting on a season-high 16 3-pointers against the Tribe.

“We’re a shooting team, and we play with a lot of pace,” said Bolon, who hit three of his four 3-point attempts. “We’ve got a lot of guys that really pass the ball well. Passing the ball well opens up guys for shots.”

College of Charleston dominated the glass, grabbing 19 offensive rebounds that led to 23 second-chance points.

“We got off to a great start and shared the ball,” Kelsey said.

Charleston came out hot, scoring on their first six offensive possessions. The Cougars quickly built a double-digit lead. Reyne Smith’s 3-pointer gave the Cougars a 14-2 lead less than four minutes into the game.

“We got into the game really quickly and our defense was solid,” said Brzovic, who had three steals and two assists. “We were doing what the game plan told us to do. We controlled the game from the first minutes.”

Charleston continued to build on its advantage throughout the first half, using a 12-3 run and grabbed a 33-14 lead on Brzovic’s putback with 8:31 to play before intermission.

“They played really well, and I don’t think that was our best game, but they had a lot to do with that,” William & Mary coach Dane Fischer said. “They came out and blitzed on offensive glass early. We really struggled to get into an offensive flow. We just never really got going.”

The second half was much of the same as the Cougars led by as much as 32 points.

Ben Wight had 14 points to lead the Tribe.

BIG PICTURE

William & Mary: The Tribe came in with two straight victories and the CAA rookie of the week award winner Charlie Williams. But the team was quickly in the hole as Charleston opened a 13-point lead less than five minutes in. ... William & Mary finished 0-of-12 on threes.

College of Charleston: The Cougars have continued their success in long-range shooting. They connected on a season's best 16 3-pointers a game after getting 15 in a win over Elon this past Saturday.

UP NEXT

William & Mary goes to Delaware on Thursday night.

College of Charleston goes to Monmouth on Thursday night.

AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

This story was originally published January 16, 2023 7:21 PM.

Sources close to the sale, informed MyrtleBeachSC News today that Myrtle Beach Mayor, Brenda Bethune sold the Myrtle Beach Better Brands, Anheuser-Busch distributorship.

The franchise sold for $142 million. Southern Crown Partners, LLC, 1600 Charleston Regional Pkwy in Charleston, S.C. purchased the business.

Anheuser-Busch is the world’s largest beer company. Sources state that Bethune and her partner Mike Riley sold the business only, but did not sell the land nor the buildings that the business operated from.

The Better Brands website states the company sells over 4 million cases of beer annually.

Mayor Bethune served as President/Chairman of the Board and majority owner according to information found on the Better Brands website. * Sources tell us however, that her partner, Mike Riley, actually owned 51% of the company.

Mike Riley, Chief Executive Officer, also was a key owner in the company. Riley wished to remain as an owner of the company, however, the new buyers chose to go in a different direction.

The 58 year old Bethune was first elected Myrtle Beach Mayor in 2017 and then re-elected in 2021. Bethune’s current term continues through January 2026.

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More Americans than ever before own their own firearm, which is good news for ammo dealers and resellers, especially as the internet has given them access to clients across the US. Unfortunately for buyers, the surge in the market has also resulted in a number of scam sites, illegal dealers, and a host of other problems they need to be aware of. So, before you spend any money at an online store, be sure you have done your research and considered the following five important aspects of online ammo buying.

Know the Laws in Your State

With the Second Amendment allowing all citizens the right to bear arms, the number of guns in American hands has soared in recent years. With this increase in firepower comes a number of laws and regulations that have been implemented by states in an attempt to control gun-related violence and gun deaths. Unfortunately for gun owners, this means that the gun laws in different states can vary wildly, and are prone to change.

So, before you even start looking at your online options, make sure you have a thorough understanding of the laws in your state. In particular, take note of the bans and restrictions placed on weapons, accessories, and ammo so that you don’t find yourself on the wrong side of the law as well as out of pocket when the equipment ends up in lockup.

Only Buy from Reputable Sources

Once you know the restrictions you need to be aware of, the next step is finding a reputable source of ammo. As the market for ammunition has expanded, so has the number of scam sites pretending to be genuine stores. When searching online, always check that the website address you are visiting is spelt correctly, as many scam sites replicate genuine reseller sites to trick buyers into thinking they are on a genuine site.

Secondly, check out the payment methods offered by the store. If they only accept cryptocurrency, chances are they are a scam. Reputable resellers like Bulk Munitions, which carry a small range of the best ammo calibers and brands, offer a number of payment options from reputable banks. Once you are sure the website is indeed who it says on the front page, other things you should check for include broken links on the site, outdated information on laws and regulations, and strange-looking logos for well-known ammo brands.

Don’t Buy Off-Name Ammo Just Because It is Cheap

There are a number of online ammo stores that sell off-brand ammo for extremely low prices, but you should always be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. Cheap ammo, re-manufactured ammo, or foreign ammo that was brought into the country as part of a bigger procurement order for the army is often sold in bulk on what looks to be reputable sites, but the reality is that you get what you pay for. This kind of ammo is typically stored in less than ideal conditions, is made with low-quality material, and is often manufactured poorly, which could result in a number of problems when fired. From barrel fouling and cycling issues to frequent jams, cheap rounds are more often than not more trouble than they are worth.

Know When to Shop

Just like with any market, ammo prices fluctuate throughout the year. While the increase in the number of firearms being sold and ongoing ammo shortage has done much to drive the price of ammo through the roof, the good news is that there is relief on the horizon. While some experts expect the shortage to continue to some extent into 2023, there has been a definite increase in the availability of many top brands of ammo. So, if you can afford to wait it out, you may consider holding off on any big ammo purchases until the prices have come down to more reasonable rates.

Triple Check Your Product Descriptions

So, you know what your state laws involve, you’ve found a reputable online store to buy from that sells ammo from well-known brands, you’ve waited out the ammo crisis and the prices finally fit your wallet. So, what now? Before you place an order, you need to make sure you know what you are buying. Check the number of rounds that come in a box, what the exact type and specifications are for the ammo, what is made from, and if you can get a better deal if you buy in bulk or not.

Some websites take advantage of buyers not paying attention to what they’re buying and get away with passing on ‘deals’ that, with a bit of math, are actually not worthwhile. While you’re checking these details, take a look at the shipping costs and terms, as often sites that offer ammo for cheap make it up with exorbitant shipping fees that push them into the higher price point than expected.

Buying anything online can be risky, but with high-demand items like ammunition, the risk is even greater for the buyer. Make smart buying choices to ensure that the ammo you buy is worth what you pay for it.

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